Harness Testers and Cable Testers
 

e-Newsletter, August 2003

From: Cirris News <news@cirris.com>
Subject:Ergonomics for Assembly and Test of Cables/Harnesses

- Improve Test Station Ergonomics: Signature Tester Tilt stands and
Racks to hold Adapters
- Web Resources on Ergonomics for Assembly and Test

From Cirris--Cable/Harness/Backplane Testing Made Easy

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This month we focus on improving ergonomics in cable/harness
assembly and test. It’s often the small things that make a big
difference over time. We have two low cost ways to improve
ergonomics in your test area along with links to helpful information
on avoiding repetitive motion injuries.

If you have any questions or comments, call us at 1-800-441-9910.

Best Regards,

Marlin Shelley
President
Cirris Systems Corp.

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Improve Test Station Ergonomics: Signature Tester Tilt stands and
Racks to hold Adapters

Sometimes placing a tester upright or flat on a bench just isn't
comfortable for people who are plugging and unplugging cables much
of the day. The ideal position for a tester minimizes bending at
the wrist when you plug and unplug cables. Use a tilt stand on your
Signature series tester to get a more natural angle for users. See
the tilt stands at:

  http://www.cirris.com/cable/tester/tiltstand.html

Adapters can easily get scattered around. They can get lost or
damaged. Some people use card file boxes to keep their adapters
organized but boxes aren't a perfect solution. With boxes you have
to remove the lid, pick up an adapter and remove the adapter from
its sleeve. After all that, the adapters don’t always get put away.

Cirris now has adapter racks that can sit on a shelf or attach to
the rails on standard workbenches. These racks can even work with
standard DIN rails attached to plywood. See the adapter racks at:

  http://www.cirris.com/adapters/trays.html


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Web Resources on Ergonomics for Assembly and Test

The books I've found on Ergonomics, at Amazon.com, have been
expensive but not that great. I have found a number of helpful
resources on the web especially on avoiding injury from repetitive
activities common in manufacturing. The most common buzz phrase is
"Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders" (WMSD).

See "Controlling the Ergonomic Hazards of Wiring Tasks for Household
Appliances" from the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/hc25.pdf

See practical information by the state of Washington to evaluate
jobs for risk of repetitive motion injuries. Washington has been
the leading state in putting forth workable regulations and
guidelines including an impressive website.

What kind of work is considered high risk for WMSD’s?

  http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/Rules/generaloccupationalhealth/HTML/ergowac.htm#WMSDs
How do you evaluate specific situations?

  http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/ergo/rule_docs/PDFs/AppendixBfinal5-19-00.PDF

The National Safety Council has been working with ANSI to create an
ANSI standard "Management of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders"
that would remind you of IS0-9000 for ergonomics. See a draft at:

  http://www.nsc.org/

Assembly magazine has been a good source of articles on ergonomic
issues associated with the electronics industry. Consider these:


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See us at a tradeshow near you

Our next major show is Assembly Tech. Expo. Chicago, IL Sept 23-25, 2003

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If you missed any of our past e-newsletters, click here to retrieve
them:

  http://www.cirris.com/support/requestnews.html


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Cirris Systems- e-Newsletters- Aug. 2003
Toll-free 1-800-441-9910